Archive for September, 2012

Oh, the awesome that is Black Milk! There may be others out there, but none with such a devoted following. And why is that? They keep inventing awesome in the form of leggings, bodysuits, tees, and more. I can’t go many places without seeing Black Milk. I have to give them my love for these amazing Haunted House Leggings and the simple joy they bring of being able to carry the spirit of my favorite season around with me. The wonder of that eerie darkness with me, wrapped around me, and carried on legs defined in designs that tell the world what it is I love. This particular pair, with its mass of swarming bats filling the skies is a feast for the eyes. In addition to these leggings, there are many more dreamy patterns and styles in the Black Milk empire. They are a wonderful haven for all those looking for simple statement pieces to darken up your wardrobe.

Amanda Palmer showcases her raw expression in her new video with The Grand Theft Orchestra, “Not the Killing Type”. The video’s intensity shows in her face and though it is basic in its fundamental aesthetic, manages to leave a lasting impression. Her angst is tangible as she grits her teeth and thrashes hysterically, literally and figuratively. The video devolves into a visceral, yet cathartic fest of blood, splashed against the all-white wardrobe and set, creating a visually pleasing, albeit morbid, scene for fans to feast upon.

Halloween is more than a holiday, it’s a way of living your life. We embrace the things that go bump in the night. We hang our skeletons out in the open, not hidden away in our closets. This amazing Skull Pendant Light by Raw Dezign is an illuminating piece for those who also crave a little darkness. This piece is made of resin. It is sculpted with a layer of white resin on the inside, and black on the outside. Handmade to order in Birmingham, UK, you can even pick your cord color to match your decor. I can see this hanging over the kitchen table or in the living room above the reading chair. It’s a very versatile pendant with a lot of personality. For those who are doubters of the macabre things in your life: you can now show them how not everything darker is scary. Indeed, some of the darkness can literally light your way through life.

Yeasayer recently came out with a music video for “Longevity” off Fragrant World. This shows a glimpse of their energy and skill playing live. If you get the chance, don’t miss seeing them live! Oh and another plus of this video, dancing old skeleton man.

The venerable Dr. Paul Koudounaris talks about his internationally esteemed book, The Empire of Death: A Cultural History of Ossuaries and Charnel Houses and gives us a look into the eclectic world behind it.

photographer : Jessica Jewell
interview by : Jessica Jewell

Dr. Paul Koudounaris spent years traveling the world to tell the unspoken stories of centuries-old charnel houses. His photographs document the lonely inhabitants, skeletons, and mummies draped in ornate robes, personified and given life even after death claimed their mortal souls. His book, The Empire of Death has been catching the attention of people around the world, landing Dr. Koudounaris interviews with all types of publications. His morbid subjects draw peoples’ attention from all ends of the social spectrum because despite all their differences they do hold one thing in common for certain: death. Auxiliary had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Koudounaris in the comfort of his colorful abode to learn more about what kind of person is behind this brilliant madness.

Your domicile is morbidly opulent. Why do you have a shark head mounted on your garage driveway, and can you share with us about your love of taxidermy? I’ve never seen so many pieces in one place outside of The Natural History Museum!
Dr. Paul Koudounaris : I was at a warehouse where they had a bunch of fiberglass animal heads. I looked at all of them, the only ones that would look good coming out of the garage were the shark and the triceratops. Unfortunately there’s no great answer because there’s no great philosophy about sharks on a garage door. You might have noticed that I did shove a sign in his mouth, “maison du requin” which is, “house of the shark” in French, so I kind of tied him in that way by giving him a mosaic sign. But no, there’s no extended meaning behind the shark, it was a formal decision.

Regarding the taxidermy thing, people either understand right away what I’m talking about because they understand it intuitively or don’t get it at all. It’s not about death. It’s never been about death. Obviously I’m a morbid-minded person, I have this great love for the macabre. But I didn’t collect these things because I thought they were morbid, I never thought they were morbid, I think they’re beautiful. The first one I ever got was when I was living in the South Bay. I was living in a converted garage, it was this awful little place. And the people living in the front garage sold stuff at the flea market. It was this little white trash kind of family from Lawndale, and I came back one day and they were unloading their car and they had this horrible, tattered taxidermy goat head that was sitting in this box and I remember looking at it and thinking it was so sad because not only did someone take your life, but they threw you away. It filled me with this kind of profound sadness and loss. I felt this total disrespect and this total loss, not just of life, but of spirit that the thing wasn’t appreciated after it died. The goal was to not celebrate death, but to create a context that puts these dead things into a new, organic environment that they are part of a new whole, a spirit was taken from them and to create a new sense of spirit by creating a holistic environment that is dependent on large part upon them. The liveliness, the spirit of the environment is dependent of them by the way they’re used.

Auxiliary Magazine’s Hangedman caught up with Pascal and Jaan of [x]-Rx in Toronto on tour with Aesthetic Perfection to hit this energetic young German duo with the seven deadlies. As the self-described gods of industrialrave, their audio assault is carefully calibrated for the laser swept dance floor. Covered in blood, gore, (and Jack Daniels) the sins are laid bare on this amazing and sometimes enigmatic cyber-industrial pair.

Envy – You have the ability to bend space and time to “steal” a song from a band you admire and call it your own, which band and what song would it be?
Jaan : Andrea Bocelli’s “Time to Say Goodbye”.
Pascal : Time to say goodbye in your face!

It’s 2012, and cyber fashions have been invading the high fashion runways for a few years now. Rick Owens is one of the industry’s most interesting leaders, and the fact that his clothes all reflect a certain industrial minimalism speaks volumes about the widespread acceptance this style now enjoys. Far from the cartoonish, blinky look that emerged from the British rave scene in the 1990s, today’s futurist has a wide world of refined options with which to assemble her wardrobe.

But designer clothing isn’t cheap and scoring deals is a skill every enthusiast must hone. Luckily, we’re currently in the midst of end-of-season sales which means CRAZY discounts from the big designers. It’s the perfect time to use your saved pennies to buy something special and well-made that while still pricey, would otherwise be out of reach.

Here are my picks for the best high fashion cyber shoes ON SALE right now across the internet, some marked down hundreds of dollars, and a couple steals for under $50!

On left : The sneaker wedge is currently making a big splash, and what’s not to love? The lift of a heel with the cushy comfort of a sneaker! Here we have a sporty example by Ruco Line, which is looking a lot like an updated Swear Alternative shoe with all the bulbous, ecstatic enthusiasm sucked out. All that’s left is a bold rave warrior who refuses to sacrifice style OR comfort. Discounted to $95 from $190 and all the whole sizes from 5 to 11 are still available. Get them on Yoox.

On right : These black and white babies are strongly inspired by past-season Gareth Pugh, the British price of avant-garde. At $90 this is a good opportunity to get his runway look. Still available in 8. At Modekungen.

On left : The Lux Stacked Wedge from Costume National may not be especially accessible, even being marked down from $965 to $483, but it’s great for inspiration. The combination of art deco surfaces and blocky asian details strikes a strong Neo-Tokyo tone. They would look great paired with a drapey cocoon jacket. I’ll be keeping my eye out for a knock-off pair! Check the zoom at Forward by Elyse Walker.

On right : Here are some party wedges by Enzo Angiolini you’ll be able to rock into October. Zebra-printed fur has been sliced up into strips, and the result reads more like TV static. It provides a great textural contrast to the fetishy-slick patent uppers for a look that says I’m bad-ass but also girly!’ Still available in sizes 7.5-10. Snap these up for $29.99 at Macys.com.

On left : The Type Z Rinny wedges have a sexy alien thing going on… smooth and textured leather for the classy cyber lady. Sultry, insectile style for $47.99. On Zappos.

On right : For the advanced cyber dresser, an all-white look is the next frontier. Remember Switch in The Matrix? The dedicated connoisseurs (and the gainfully employed) can indulge in this pair by Rick Owens, an ankle boot that is equal parts Tron Legacy and Marilyn Manson’s “Dope Show”. Still ZOMG-worthy at $548, at full price they’re $1,370 which simply does not compute! Check them out at Forward by Elyse Walker.

We all need to eat, why not have a little fun with our food? Fred & Friends provides hours of delight with their products for the wickedly inclined. I have more than one set of the Bone Chillers ice cube trays, the Skeleton Key Glow in the Dark key covers, and the Gingerdead cookie cutters which are a riot. But alas, I do not yet have the Cursed Cookies voodoo doll cookie cutter. This makes me a little pained, what can I stick pins of wood into if not a little cookie voodoo doll? Hours of fun could be had baking up the cookies and decorating them, printing your enemies names on them, and stabbing them in various body parts. When your nemesis has experienced enough pain, you now have the joy of devouring the cookie, and therefore your foe’s life! Yum!

The Cursed Cookies voodoo doll cookie cutter is coming this October to various online retailers for $8.
To find a local store selling Fred & Friends products visit www.fredandfriends.com.

Trust has released another music video for their début album TRST, this time for “Dressed for Space”. “Dressed for Space” is one of, if not the most dance friendly track on the album and in my opinion the track with the most crossover appeal for the goth/industrial scene (mix this into an EBM/synthpop set splashed with indie dance). This video shows you can defiantly dance to it! Surprising that a band that seemed very secretive at first would release so many music videos. This video puts Robert Alfons in the spotlight, a place he fits very nicely. It’s clear that not only great music, but Alfons’ odd charisma, stage presence, and captivating voice, will bring Trust more attention.

About to release her first studio album in four years with new collaborators The Grand Theft Orchestra and embark on a US and European tour, Amanda Palmer the talented musician, songwriter, artist, and performer, sometimes known as Amanda Fucking Palmer by both haters and loving fans alike talks about punk cabaret, her record breaking Kickstarter campaign, the controversy that follows her every move, and her personal style.

interview by : Gia Manalio-Bonaventura

With her new album, Theatre is Evil, Amanda Palmer is on the road, creating art, and taking the stage. She took some time out of her incredibly busy schedule to talk to us about her creative process, art as expression, her fashion style, and, of course, the new album. A schedule that is so busy, we talked over the phone while she was in a cab, running errands, and fulfilling the obligations she had that day. The fact that she took us along is just one more example of the lengths Amanda will go to in order to reach out to her fans. So without further ado, Amanda Palmer…

When I first heard your name as Amanda Fucking Palmer, I actually just thought it was my friend being a fan, and saying it that way to express her enthusiasm about your music. Now I see it in all sorts of places, including your official website. Where did that come from?
Amanda Palmer : [laughs] It was a re-appropriation. Kind of like nigger. Someone threw it my way as an insult, and I decided to just run with it.